The Valet Parking Application is the form the City of Boston Transportation Department uses to issue a Valet Parking Permit, a Boston parking permit that gives an establishment exclusive use of curb space during approved days and hours. It is filed by the restaurant, hotel or hospital that the valet service will serve, and the permit must be renewed every year. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself and the valet parking regulations are published by the City of Boston.
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What is Valet Parking Application – Boston, MA?
The Valet Parking Application (printed on the form as the City of Boston Valet Parking Permit Application) is the form an establishment submits to the Boston Transportation Department to request a Valet Parking Permit: the right to use a set length of curb space for valet parking during approved time periods.
The permit is issued to the establishment served by the valet operation, which may hire an outside company to run it. Under the Department's Article IV-A, Valet Parking Permit Regulations (effective November 1, 2012), the permit is a privilege, not a right, and no curb space may be used for valet parking without one.
The form asks for the establishment and the valet company, the location and linear feet of the requested Valet Parking Zone, the off-street facility where cars will be parked, and the days, hours, estimated vehicles and estimated attendants. It also lists two required attachments: a route map or plan and a copy of the agreement with the off-street facility.
If the Department approves the application, the approval notice is the permit. It states the term, the exact location and size of the zone, the approved hours and the minimum number of attendants. The permit may be approved in whole or in part, denied, or approved with conditions.
Special or one-day permits are a separate option the Department may issue at its discretion.
Who needs to file Valet Parking Application – Boston, MA?
The establishment that will be served by the valet parking operation files this application. The regulations name three kinds of establishment as Valet Permit Holders: a restaurant, a hotel or a hospital. Applications must come from the establishment itself, even if it contracts an outside firm, called the Valet Parking Operator, to run the service.
- First-time applicants file an initial application. The Department notifies the District City Councilor, who may hold a public meeting, and sends a copy to the local Boston Police Department district.
- Current permit holders file a renewal application each year with updated information and evidence of how they used the off-street facility during the current permit.
- Establishments needing a one-time permit for an event ask for a special or one-day permit instead; the Department issues these at its discretion.
If no valet company will be used, the permit holder provides the operator information itself. Running a valet operation without a permit can lead to a fine for both the establishment and the valet operator, and each day counts as a separate offense.
When to file Valet Parking Application – Boston, MA
Apply before you start any valet operation, because no curb space may be used for valet parking without a permit. Permits are issued for July 1 through June 30, expire on June 30 of each year and must be renewed annually, with updated information in the renewal application.
For a special or one-day permit, the application is due no later than five days before the event. The Department considers requests made less than five days before the event only in extraordinary situations; contact the Transportation Department at 617-635-4680 or [email protected] about one-day permits.
The City says you will get a response within two months. The regulations require the evaluation of a complete application to be finished promptly and no later than sixty (60) days after the Department receives it. If the application is approved, the Department sends a notice with a schedule for paying the permit fees, and it installs the valet signage once the fees are paid.
Documents you need
- A map or plan, with a description, showing the route valet attendants will use to and from the off-street parking facility, identified by name and street address. Required with every application.
- A copy of the agreement, or a letter, from the owner or operator of the off-street parking facility confirming the valet arrangement. It must state the facility's location, its total number of parking spaces and the number available for the establishment's valet vehicles.
- For renewals only: evidence of how the off-street parking facility was used during the term of the current permit.
How to fill out Valet Parking Application – Boston, MA
Enter the application date
Write today's date on the DATE line at the top of the form. The form notes that permits are issued July 1 to June 30 and must be renewed annually.
Describe the establishment
Under Applicant Information, enter the business name (line 1) and the street, city and ZIP code (line 2) of the location where the valet operation is proposed. A location may include more than one street if they are contiguous.
Add the owner or manager contacts
On line 3, enter the owner or general manager's name with the day phone, fax and evening phone numbers; the form also has a pager line.
Identify the valet company
Under Valet Information, enter the valet company (line 1), its address (line 2) and its owner or general manager with phone numbers (line 3). The regulations require the operator's owner or manager to be reachable by cell phone 24 hours a day. If no valet company will be used, give the same details for the establishment.
Request the valet zone
On line 4, enter the valet zone location and the number of linear feet requested. The Department sets the final size using factors such as seating capacity.
Name the off-street facility
On line 5, enter the name and address of the off-street facility where valet vehicles will be parked. This must match the facility named in your agreement and route plan.
List days, hours and volumes
On line 6, for each period (daytime Monday to Friday, daytime Saturday and Sunday, evenings Sunday to Wednesday, evenings Thursday to Saturday), enter the hours, the estimated number of vehicles and the estimated number of attendants.
Prepare the required attachments
Assemble the route map or plan with its description, and the agreement or letter from the off-street facility with its total spaces and valet spaces. Renewals also need evidence of use of the facility during the current permit.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check every line and sign on the SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT line. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Valet Parking Application – Boston, MA
The Boston Transportation Department accepts the completed, signed application in person or by mail. Neither the form nor the City's page names an online submission channel.
- In person: Transportation Department, Room 721, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- By mail: Transportation Department, Room 721, Off-Street Parking Division, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201, ATTN: Valet Parking Permit.
The form itself prints the delivery address as City of Boston, Transportation Dept, Off-Street Parking Division, 721 City Hall, Boston, MA 02201. Include the required attachments: the route map or plan with its description, and the agreement or letter from the off-street facility. A renewal also needs evidence of the previous year's use of the facility.
Permit fees apply and are set by City of Boston ordinance. After approval, the Department sends a payment schedule; ask the Transportation Department for current amounts. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Having the valet company file instead of the establishment; the regulations say applications must be submitted by the establishment that the valet operation will serve.
- Leaving out the route map or plan and its description, which the form lists as a required attachment.
- Attaching an off-street facility agreement that does not state the facility's total spaces and the spaces available for valet vehicles.
- Submitting a renewal without evidence of how the off-street facility was used under the current permit.
- Applying for a one-day permit less than five days before the event; the Department considers late requests only in extraordinary situations.
- Operating valet parking before the permit is issued; each day without a permit is a separate offense with a fine.
- Sending the form unsigned; the form ends with a line for the applicant's signature.
- Letting a permit lapse on June 30 without renewing; permits expire every year on that date and the signs are removed after expiration.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of Boston parking permit is the valet parking permit?
It is a permit for curb space, not a personal parking permit. The Boston Transportation Department issues it to a restaurant, hotel or hospital, giving it exclusive use of a Valet Parking Zone during approved time periods. It is a privilege, not a right.
Who can apply for a Boston valet parking permit?
The establishment served by the valet operation: a restaurant, hotel or hospital. The application must come from the establishment itself, even if it hires an outside valet company to run the service.
When does a Boston valet parking permit expire?
On June 30 of each year. Permits are issued for July 1 through June 30 and must be renewed annually. A renewal application needs updated information and evidence of how you used the off-street parking facility during the current permit.
What do I have to attach to the valet parking application?
A map or plan with a description of the valet attendants' route to and from the off-street facility, and a copy of your agreement with that facility stating its total spaces and the spaces available for valet vehicles. Renewals also need evidence of the facility's use.
Where do I submit the Boston valet parking application?
Deliver it to the Transportation Department, Room 721, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or mail it to the Off-Street Parking Division at the same address, ATTN: Valet Parking Permit.
How long does the city take to answer a valet permit application?
The City says you will get a response within two months. The regulations set a limit of sixty (60) days after receipt of a complete application for the Department to finish its evaluation.
Is there a fee for a valet parking permit in Boston?
Yes. Fees for curb space and signage are set by City of Boston ordinance, and the Department sends a payment schedule after approval. Contact the Transportation Department at 617-635-4680 or [email protected] for current amounts.
Can I get a one-day valet permit for an event?
The Department may issue special or one-day permits at its discretion. Apply no later than five days before the event; later requests are considered only in extraordinary situations. Questions go to 617-635-4680 or [email protected].
Can I fill out the Boston valet application on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Boston and does not submit the application; you deliver or mail it to the Transportation Department.
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